How You Can Support Civil Legal Aid

The law is extremely powerful. It can mean the difference between having a roof over your head and being homeless, having food on your table or going hungry, having access to childcare so that you can maintain your employment or being unemployed. Your gift will help us make sure that our families can meet those most basic needs.

In 2017, LawNY® closed 8,880 cases benefitting 18,906 people. The breakout of the cases was as follows: income maintenance (29%), housing (23%), family (18%), health (15%), employment (5%), consumer (4%) and other (6%). LawNY® achieved at least $297,569 in ongoing monthly benefits and at least $2,501,238 in one-time payments for total awards to our clients of at least $6,072,066 over 12 months. Through our hotline system, we offer legal information and referrals to people we do not have the capacity to represent. In 2017 we completed 1,119 hotline calls across our service area.

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Throughout our fourteen county service area, we operate a variety of civil legal services projects, such as foreclosure prevention, domestic violence prevention, disability advocacy, veterans legal services, seniors legal services, consumer legal services, medical-legal partnerships, and homelessness prevention. LawNY® receives funding from a variety of sources, including federal, state and local government, the United Way, and private foundations.

The need for legal services in our communities is still great, and many of our community members face barriers to access to justice. Civil legal services programs like LawNY® have the capacity to meet only about 20% of the legal needs of our client population. Your donation will go towards serving local community members in need of legal services.

You can also help LawNY® by nominating us for a cy pres award. Cy pres awards are an amazing way for plaintiffs to support legal aid services with the residual funds from class action suits. These funds are used to fulfill the terms of the award and expand our capacity to serve more members of our communities. If you would like to nominate LawNY for a cy pres award please contact Lori O’Brien 585-295-5608.

LawNY® is an eligible Amazon Smile organization. If you shop on Amazon and wish to support LawNY®, make your purchases on smile.amazon.com and indicate that you would like to support Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.®.

We also accept donations of furniture or other office supplies. If you wish to donate material gifts contact your local LawNY® office or contact Lori O’Brien at 585-295-5608.

If you are donating in connection to the 50th Anniversary donation matching campaign, please mention the 50th in the memo line.

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY®) is a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent by law. All donations to LawNY® will be expended in accordance with the Legal Services Corporation Act and 45 CFR Part 1610.

2017 Campaign for Justice Sponsors:

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Veteran? Need Help?

NYServes Upstate is a coordinated network of public, private, and non-profit organizations that covers 14 counties across the state. NYServes Upstate is ready to link military personnel and their families to providers in their area to receive services including: benefits, employment, housing and shelter, legal, and much more. Visit their website and learn how to request assistance, or call 1-855-459-VETS.